Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-15

by putting it beyond the reach of so
many. The amount of whisky comsum-
ed in the United States per capita to day
is not more than 40 per cent. of that con
sumed thirty years ago.
After few moments silence Mr.. Blaine
ADDED that In his judgment the whisky
tax should be SO modified as to permit all
who use pure alcohol in the arts or in
mechanical pursuits to have IL free of
tax. In all such cases the tax could be
RENTED without danger Of fraud just as
now the tax on spirits exported is re-
mitted.
Besides your general and sweeping
opposition to the presidents recommen-
dation, have yoa any further specific
objection!"
YES" answered Mr.. Blaine, "I should
seriously object to the repeal of the duty
on wool. To repeal that would work
great injustice TO many interests and
would seriously discourage what we
should earnestly discourage, namely, the
sheep culture among farmers throughout
the union. To break down wool grow
ing and be dependent on foreign coun-
tries for the blanket under which We
sleep and the coat that covers our backs
is not wise policy for the national gov
eminent to enforce"
"Do you think if the presidents rec
concentrations were adopted it would in
crease our export trader"
POSSIBLY in some few articles of Pc
c1liar construction it might; but it would
increase our import trade ten-fold as
much in the great staple fabrics, in wool
en- and cotton goods, IN iron, in STEEL, in
all the thousand and one shapes in which
they are wrought. How are we to
export staple fabrics to the markets of
Eurpe unless we make them cheaper
than they do in Europe. unless we get
cheaper labor than they have in Eu
rope?"
"Then you think that the question of
labor underlias the whole subject?"
"Of course it does" replied Mr.. Blaine.
at is, in fact, the entire question. When
ever we can force carpenters, masons,
iron workers and mechanics in every de-
partment to work as cheaply and live as
poorly IN the United States as similar
workmen in Europe, we can, of course,
manufacture just as cheaply as they do
in England or France. But [ am totally
opposed to q policy that would entail
such results. To attempt it is equivalent
to social and financial revolution, one
that would bring untold distress"
eyes, but might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles
from Europe instead of buying them at
higher prices at homer"
"The moment" answered Mr.. Blaine,
"you begin to import freely from Eu-
rope you drive our own workman from
mechanical and manufacturing pursuits.
In the same proportion they become
tillers of the soil, increasing steadily the
agricultural product and decreasing
steadily the large home demand which
Is constantly enlarging as home manu-
features enlarge. That, of course, works
great injury to the farmer, quitting the
markets with his products and tending
constantly to lower prices"
eyes, but the foreign demand fer farm
products would be increased in like ratio,
would it not?"
"Eyen suppose it were," said Mr..
Blaine, show do you know the source
from which it will be supplied The
tendency in Russia to-day and in the
Asiat1c possessions of England is toward
large increase of grain supply, the
grain being raised by the cheapest posi-
bic labor. Manufacturing countries will
buy their breadstuffs where they can get
| them cheapest, and the charging of the
home market for the American farmer
being checked. he would search in vain
for one OF the same value. His foreign
sales are already checked by the great
competition abroad. There never was a
tim when the increase of large home
market was so valuable to him. The best
proof is that the farmers are prosperous
in proportion TO the nearness of manu-
featuring centers, and protective tariff
tends to spread manufactures. In Ohio
and Indiana, for example, though not
classed as manufacturing states, the an
nual value of fabrics is larger than the
annual agricultural products
"But those holding the presidents
views" remarked the reporter, "are al
ways quoting the great pros perity of the
country under the tariff Of 1885,
"That tariff did not involve the one
distinctive point recommended by the
president, namely, the retaining of di-
rect internal taxes in order to abolish in
direct taxes levied on foreign fabrics.
But the country had peculiar advantages
under it by the Crimean war, involving
England, France and Russia, and largely
lmpairing their trade. All these Incl
cents, or accidents, if you choose, were
immensely stimulating to trade in the
United States, regardless of the nature
of our tariff. BIT mark the end of this
European experience with the tariff of
1916, which, for a time, gave an il
lusroy and deceptive show of pros
perity. It's enactment was Immediately
followed by the Mexican war; then, in
1S4S, by the great commissions in Europe;
then, in 1849, and succeeding years, by
the enormous gold yield in California.
The powers made peace in 1856, aud at
the same time the output of gold in Cali
fornia fell off. Immediately the financial
panic of 1857 came upon the country
with disastrous force. Though we hid in
these years mined vast amount of gold
IN California, every bank in New York
was forced to suspend payment. Four
hundred millions of gold had been car
RED out of the country in eight years to
pay for foreign goods that should have
been manufactured at home, and we had
years of depression and distress as an
atonement for our folly.
at is remarkable that President Polk
recommended the tariff of 1916 on pre-
c1sely the same ground that President